How does experiential learning prepare college students for real-world careers? 

At Texas State, journalism students don’t just study reporting — they do it. They cover major news events and interview real people.  Students report on impactful stories like the aftermath of the school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and the 2025 deadly Central Texas flooding.  

 In this episode of Stories of Change and Creativity, Judy Oskam talks with Dino Chiecchi, associate professor of practice at Texas State University.  He's a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of newsroom experience. 

During our conversation, we explore how classroom instruction meets professional practice.  We talk about why mentorship and real-world experience matter in higher education.

What You’ll Learn

• Why experiential learning helps students build professional skills
 • How expert faculty elevate classroom learning
 • The importance of mentoring in developing confidence and resilience
 • How students can publish meaningful work before they graduate
 • Why telling the stories about real people matters

The articles written by Texas State University students were published in the Austin American Statesman and the Texas Standard.  Check out the SJMC website for more information.  

You can learn more about Professor Chiecchi's book here:
Josue: A Young Man's Life Lost to Suicide.  

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If you’re a high-achieving professional who feels successful everywhere except your health, this episode of Stories of Change and Creativity might be for you.  I can certainly relate!

Many driven professionals excel in their careers but struggle with health in midlife because they apply the same optimization mindset that works at work to their bodies. In this episode, Judy Oskam talks with Tony Sherock, Certified Personal Trainer— Health Behavior Specialist and Tiny Habits® Certified Coach.  He explains how identity-based habits can create lasting health change.

This conversation reframes health as part of who you are, not another project to manage. You’ll walk away with practical insights you can apply immediately to rebuild your health in a way that lasts.

What You’ll Learn

• Why high-achieving professionals often struggle with health in midlife
• Why traditional diets and fitness plans fail busy professionals over 40
• The role identity plays in health behavior change
• How tiny, adaptable habits create lasting health improvements

About Tony Sherock

Tony Sherock is a Health Behavior Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer, and Tiny Habits® Certified Coach. He is the founder of Habits To Health – Tony Sherock, LLC, and works with busy midlife professionals (40+) who are juggling demanding careers, family life, and caregiving responsibilities.

Tony helps high achievers rebuild their health by shifting away from fast, optimized effort toward slow, sustainable habit change that fits real life. His work is informed by a background in broadcasting and higher education, as well as his own personal health transformation—from being pre-diabetic and on multiple medications to creating lasting change through behavior science.

https://www.habitstohealthcoach.com/

You can find Tony Sherock on Facebook, Instagram, & Skool:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1605709083060117

https://www.instagram.com/tonysherock_habits_to_health/

https://www.skool.com/the-habit-hub

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If you’re a fan of Outlander, the historical fiction series set in Scotland, like I am, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I talk with Dr. Alexandra “Alex” Dold, a literary scholar and historian known as the “Doctor of Outlander,” about her academic journey and career path.  We discuss how historical fiction can become public history — inviting people to connect with history beyond textbooks and classrooms.

During this episode, you’ll learn how Outlander and other historical fiction can build bridges between fans, public audiences, and academic inquiry. Alex also shares insights from her own path — from studying literature in Germany to completing a PhD in Scotland on Outlander as public history.  You'll hear how that journey reshaped her understanding of how stories can make reading and history more accessible for everyone.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• How historical fiction functions as public history
• Why stories like Outlander make history feel accessible and emotionally resonant
• Dr. Alex Dold’s academic journey — from pursuing language and literature to transforming it into public-facing scholarship
• Practical ways listeners can continue engaging with history and reading outside formal academic spaces

Why This Matters

Historical fiction often gets dismissed as “just entertainment.” Alex’s work reframes it as public history.  It's a way that everyday readers and viewers connect with the past and develop meaningful questions. This episode invites listeners to:

• see the Outlander stories they love as gateways to learning,
• recognize curiosity as a valid path to knowledge, and
• think about how reading habits can lead to deeper exploration.

Guest Info

Dr. Alexandra “Alex” Dold is a literary scholar and historian whose research focuses on historical fiction as public history. She completed her PhD in history examining the Outlander novels at the University of the Highlands and Islands, Centre for History, Dornoch.  Dr. Dold explored the role of Outlander in shaping how people engage with history beyond traditional academic spaces. 

You can find out more about Dr. Dold and her scholarship below:
https://alexdold.com/

Outlander

Dr. Diana Gabaldon is the author of the award-winning The Outlander series.  You can learn more about about the series and Diana here.  

The final season of Outlander airs in March 2026.

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In this music-filled episode of Stories of Change and Creativity, Judy Oskam sits down with singer-songwriter and education leader Dr. Candace Hastings to explore what it means to live a creative life of purpose.  They talk about identity, community, and meaning. Along the way, you’ll hear excerpts from Candace’s new album, including “Soft Place to Land” and “Horses I Left Behind,” songs shaped by memory, place, and belonging.

Dr. Hastings is the Associate Vice Provost for the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship at Texas State University, an acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter and a tribal member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Her Potawatomi name is Mskwagishgokwe [Red Sky Woman].  Candace shares how being adopted and later discovering her Indigenous heritage helped her come “full circle,” shaping both her leadership and her songwriting. This episode features excerpts of Candace’s music, including “Soft Place to Land” and “Horses I Left Behind.”

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Candace integrates creative practice and leadership in higher education
• How identity and heritage shape her songwriting 
• The Potawatomi concept of mno-bmadzewen - walking in a good way on the earth—a life guided by balance, responsibility, and relationship with community and the land
• Why curiosity and creativity are essential for learning, teaching, and innovation
• How work and play overlap when your work is aligned with meaning 

Creativity and Letting the Song Lead

Candace describes her musical genre as Americana—and says each song “tells her what it needs to be.” Sometimes that means swing (as in “Lone Star Christmas”) and sometimes it means a fully layered studio production.

The song “Horses I Left Behind,” was written during Candace’s trips to Oklahoma where she deepened her connection to her Potawatomi roots. She told me that she later learned she drove past the cemetery where her grandmother was buried.  This gives special meaning to the song.  

Candace has a new album coming out in spring 2026, featuring the following songs:

• Soft Place to Land (title track)
• Horses I Left Behind
• Love and Cowboys 
• It’s Too Damn Hot 
• Call Your Mama 

You can find out more about Candace Hastings and her music here:
 
 https://www.candacehastings.com/

This episode was recorded at Live Oak Studios on the campus of Texas State University.  

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What do you say when someone you love is dying—and you know your time together is limited? In this practical and compassionate episode, Judy Oskam talks with Dr. Maureen Keeley, a leading researcher on end-of-life communication, from Texas State University.  

Dr. Maureen Keeley offers a research-based framework for anyone caring for an aging parent, supporting a loved one through illness, or anticipating loss.  Listeners will learn what matters most in end-of-life conversations and how small, everyday moments can become the memories that last a lifetime.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How to rethink “final conversations” so you don’t wait until it’s too late
• Why there is no perfect goodbye
• How everyday routines can provide comfort, meaning, and connection at the end of life
• How these conversations help you, not just the person who is dying

 The Six Themes of Final Conversations (Research-Based)

1. Love messages – expressing love, reassurance, affection, and presence
2. Identity messages – affirming strengths, values, and who someone has been in your life
3. Spiritual or religious messages – faith, meaning, beliefs about death or the afterlife
4. Everyday talk – routine conversations, humor, shared activities, normal life
5. Healing difficult relationships – addressing unresolved tension, softening anger, finding peace
6. Taking care of the business of death and dying – wishes, living wills, memorial plans, passwords, and practical guidance

Dr. Maureen Keeley is a Professor of Interpersonal Communication at Texas State University.  She has studied end-of-life communication for more than two decades.  

Check out Dr. Keeley's TEDX talk. 

You can find Dr. Keeley and Dr. Yingling's book below: 

The Good Goodbye:  The Transformative Power of Conversation at the End of Life by Maureen P. Kelley, Ph.D. and Julie M. Yingling, Ph.D. 

This episode was recorded at Live Oak Studios on the campus of Texas State University.

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January is often framed as a month of restriction—Dry January, less sugar, less indulgence, less everything. But what if January wasn’t about giving things up? What if it was about trying?

In this Try January episode, Judy Oskam weaves together powerful insights from past conversations to explore how meaningful change begins. Experts comment on building identity capital and setting goals, mentorship, creativity, adventure, and kindness.  This episode reminds us that change often starts with a choice… and the courage to try.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why trying is powerful 
• How everyday choices shape identity and personal growth
• An effective way to think about goals: learning vs. performance
• The lasting impact of mentorship and paying it forward
• How stepping into unfamiliar places can transform who we become
• Why creativity begins with our surroundings
• A gentle reminder to be kind—to others and to yourself

Featured Voices 

• Dr. Meg Jay, psychologist and author, on identity capital and why we are shaped by what we do, not just who we think we are. You can hear our podcast interview here.  
• Caroline Adams Miller, goal-setting expert, on dreaming boldly and balancing learning goals with performance goals.  We discussed Caroline's goal strategy in our 2025 interview.  
• Dr. Kelly Damphousse, President of Texas State University, on mentorship and paying it forward.  I'm honored Dr. Damphousse was my 100th podcast episode.  
• Wendy Conklin, artist and founder of Chair Whimsy, on how our environments spark joy and creativity.  Wendy wrote the book on creativity - you can find it here.
• Dr. Cliff Redford, veterinarian and global adventurer, on kindness.  You can listen to our interview at this link.  
• Students Jamin Ochoa and Angie Olmos, reflecting on how studying abroad in Scotland changed their perspective and confidence.  Check out my Scotland mini series here. 

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need encouragement to try something new this January. 

Thanks for listening—and here’s to making it a Try January

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What is home?
Is it a place, a memory, a landscape—or a journey? In this episode, Judy Oskam explores the transformative meaning of home with Amy Denet Deal.  She's the founder of 4 Kinship, Indigenous Futures Forever, and the Diné Skate Garden Project.

Amy’s story is one of remarkable courage and clarity. In her mid-50s, she left the corporate fashion world and returned to her Navajo roots. Her journey home reveals how healing and creativity intersect in powerful ways.

In this episode, Judy and Amy talk about adoption and culture.  They both share an adoption connection. 

Returning to Her Roots

• Amy shares her early life story of being adopted out of her Navajo community in the 1960s—before the Indian Child Welfare Act.
• Amy describes the moment she chose to “come home” in 2019. Selling everything and driving to New Mexico to reconnect with her culture.

Healing and Identity

• Amy shares about meeting her birth mother for the first time 
• .The emotional work of reconnecting with family, community, and heritage.

From Fashion Executive to Indigenous Fashion Leader

• A look inside Amy’s career in corporate fashion and the ethical concerns that pushed her toward sustainable design.
• The founding of 4 Kinship, a brand rooted in Indigenous artistry and community impact.

 Creating Spaces for the Next Generation

• Why skateboarding became a tool for youth empowerment, health, and suicide prevention.
• Long-term dreams of a fiber farm—possibly in Scotland—to support her daughter’s fashion future.
• The deep connection between land and clarity of purpose.

Memorable Quote

“Home to me is a feeling of calmness and clarity. Coming back to my homelands quieted the noise and helped me understand exactly why I’m here.” - Amy Denet Deal

A Reflection for You

Judy closes the episode with a question for listeners:

 What does home mean to you?
Is it a place, a person, a memory—or a journey you're still traveling?

Photo by Shaun Price. 

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What if celebration isn’t something “extra,” but something essential to living a meaningful, connected life?  If you're like me, you're always looking for reasons to celebrate and enjoy life. 

 In this episode of Stories of Change and Creativity, I sit down with Dr. R. Jon McGee—anthropologist, author, and longtime Texas State University professor— to explore the topic of celebration.  We met at the Live Oak Podcast Studio on the campus of Texas State University.  

For more than forty years, Dr. McGee lived with and learned from Maya communities in southern Mexico. He explained how rituals create order in chaotic times and help people navigate change.

Inside Maya Ritual Life

Professor McGee takes us inside ceremonies shaped by rainforest ecosystems and centuries of tradition—

• incense drifting 
• prayers spoken in a distinct ritual voice
• balché, a fermented mead used to open a sacred, altered state

He reveals how metaphors woven into healing incantations—birds, winds, heat, and fever—carry cultural memory and symbolic meaning. 

Why Rituals Matter in Our Everyday Lives

From Christmas and communion to Thanksgiving tables and graduation, Professor McGee helps us see how our own traditions carry histories and stories forward. These familiar symbols—colors, foods, candles, music—are  anchors that help us mark time and feel connected.

How to Bring More Celebration Into Your Life

If you’re craving more meaning, we discuss some practical ways to create moments of celebration:

• Gather the people who matter most
• Choose symbols your group already loves
• Engage all five senses
• Make space for recognition and storytelling
• Keep it small—simple gestures can make a big difference

How do you celebrate? I’d love to hear.

If you enjoyed this episode subscribe, share with a friend who might need to celebrate more often, and leave a review.   Tell me the one ritual you’d never give up.

Learn more about Dr. R. Jon McGee here.

Recorded at Live Oak Studios on the campus of Texas State University.

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How do sports, culture, and communication shape who we are?  In this episode, Judy Oskam talks with University of Alabama Sports Scholar Dr. Kenon Brown.
 
 Dr. Brown is a professor of advertising and public relations, co-director of the Beyond Sports Initiative, and co-author of the book -  The United States of Sport: Media Framing and the Influence of the Intersection of Sports and American Culture.
 
During our conversation we explore how sports reflect American society, how branding and communication shape identity, and how career pivots can open doors to purpose and passion. From the rise of women’s sports to the connection between hip-hop and the NBA, Dr. Brown offers a powerful look at creativity and change through the lens of sport.

In this episode you'll learn: 

 - The 'perfect storm' moment that connected passion and purpose, resulting in a career change
 - How sports mirror American culture — from equality in pay to pop culture and hip-hop
 - Why authenticity and consistency matter in personal branding, especially for NIL athletes
 - The powerful link between sports, mental health, and communication
 - What’s next in global sports: the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics

Quotes - Dr. Kenon Brown

“It was the perfect storm — the right people at the right time helped me make the pivot.”
 
 “Sports are a microcosm of society. Every major cultural shift is reflected on the field or court.”
 
 “Be authentic. Be consistent. That’s the foundation of a strong personal brand.”
 
 “The intersection of communication, culture, and sports is where real change happens.”

Resources and Links

- The United States of Sport: Media Framing and the Influence of the Intersection of Sports and American Culture by Kenon Brown, Josh Dickhaus, and Mia Long Anderson

- Beyond Sports Initiative, University of Alabama
 

Dr. Brown kicked off a university lecture series in sports media at Texas State University, coordinated by Professor and Regents' Teacher of Advertising Dr. Mike Devlin.  

This interview was recorded at Live Oak Studios, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Texas State University. 

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What’s your relationship with money? Do you worry about having enough? Does money guide all of your decisions?  

In this episode of Stories of Change and Creativity, I talk with Mary Liz Burns about the psychology of money. She has more than two decades of experience in personal finance communications and media.  Mary Liz has an MBA with a focus on financial psychology and is a certified senior advisor.

After a successful career in corporate communications and public relations — including 22 years with AARP — Mary Liz realized the missing piece in most money conversations: the human connection. Now, she helps people understand their personal “money stories” and develop healthier, more compassionate relationships with money.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why our relationship with money is emotional, not rational — and how fear and shame can hold us back
• The four money scripts that shape financial behavior
• How childhood experiences and “financial flashpoints” form our money beliefs
• How our relationship with money changes in different stages of life
• Practical steps to begin your own money awareness journey — where to start

Quotes

“My goal from now until the day I die is to reduce the fear and shame we have around money — and to help people have open, honest conversations, starting with themselves.”  — Mary Liz Burns

“Financial education alone is not enough to change behavior. We have to bring the human piece to it.”   — Mary Liz Burns

Resources & Links

• Take the free Money Scripts Test (by Dr. Brad Klontz)
• Learn more about Mary Liz Burns and her work in financial psychology https://www.marylizburns.money/
  
  

Note:  This content is not intended as specific legal or financial advice, and listeners should consider their individual circumstances when applying this information and to seek professional assistance if needed. 

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